Chemical conversion of substances



Dec. 4, 1923.

L. HEIS ET.AL` CHEMICAL coNv'ERsIQN 'o1-1 sUBsTANCEs 'Filed Mgr'ch 21,192s `Patented D.ec."4,` 19723. Y

fr@ azz wam* la 'may comme j l i 'known thatwe, LnoNnAno Hers, a'cit- 'lizen of the Republic' of Germany, residing at "L lZuricl, `,SWitzeiland,and HUnER'r JEzLEn, a

citizen'y of tlie *Republic` of Switzerland, re- "isidinrfatZurichfSivitzerland, have invented jcertaln ne'W and useful Improvements4in the ChemicalwConverson of Substances; and we doliereby declare thefollowing to be a. clean full, and@ exact description:l of theinvention, gs1 1cl1faswill` enable others skilled in thefartjtoxvhicl'itappertains to makerand ,usel thefsam'eL "ference being had to gtle'aci elepanyingf.drawings/1and.t0 letters 0r fig- I ures of referencelnarlmdY thereon, which form; a partV of this specication.

lNumerous apparatus exist already intended forkthe chemical .conversionAof especially gaseou :andfvaporousisubstances by means V(of ian vve'ctricfldiscliargel Generally Vthe fsubsitancesfto befc'onverted i. e.,chemical actionsftolfbe' reduced Vare, between the electrodes :ofisuclhi apparatus, l subjected to Vthe action'jof l"an"electric,current in theform of u, i f ry, wie@ @nl-assfreaamay melecules if isr so f an`Velectric l "arc," sparks, 4.brush-light, Y glow- Tlglit andcold'cliscliargea the hemical con- Y versionk beingV effected by shockionization. rInf'oi'der to cause ='the lrequiredelectric ener-;necess'ary with these` processes to cause vthe substance to travelia,long lstretch betweenl theflttraesilhpracfieaiiapplication of these?processes yields, 1 however, insufiicient results'in'.mostcases.il, 1 f

f YIn contradistinction tothe hitherto known processes with theprocessaccording to the present: invention the substances to be converted arecaused *to'jpass` through very inten/se: velectrie i fields Withoutproducing the 'disruptivedrfichefge phenmena above described,` andVliavingfan intensity of at vleast1054705-'olt'per centimetre whichfields are obtained ,byY theI utilization of high tension currentsfor by`the combined utilization ofgsucl'currents andV of steam or gasVpressures to; thousandsV of atmospheres, `whereby f the temperatureYYof, the substances "isfvariable-within wide limits. y. l y, Iheintenseelectricfeldsnlay `further be producedl a tfthe intensely A curvedlsurface of electric conductors",g asV for instance points, edges,`br'thinlfwires, by charging thesevconductors with high tension current.fWithV such fields and for :the conversion of .Ems 1mm HUBERT JEzLEn.orl ZURICH,YV SWITZERLAND.

PATENT f OFFICE.

` e convnnsoN or sUBsrANoEs.

A. Question mea miren 21,1923. Vserial no. 626,658. r i

Y' some substances pressures of for instance 20,

'100 and more atmospheres may be A-found suicient. Y i Mostof the modernphysicists favour the 'view that the bindingv forces within the atomsand the vmolecules are of an electric nature. It mustl therefore bepossible to ef-n fect' dissociations when electric forces areV `utllizedwhich are sufficiently powerful.

There are numerous indications to be `found in thefmodern technicalliterature about the order of magnitude Vof these forces.

When working at atmospheric pressure the 'generation of the necessaryelectrostatic intensity' of field can be frustrated by the fact, thatwith comparatively small intensities of field shock ionization isinitiated by n lthe action of the ions which are always pres- Vent to acertain degree, this shock ionization may prevent a further considerableincrease "in the intensityof field. The intensity of field at which theshock ionization starts depends on the pressure ofthe gas and is inproportion to said pressure. This intensity of vield is with air underatmospheric pressure approximately 2-5.104 volt/cm. On'the other handtheintensity of field which is necessary for the direct cessation of themo- 'lecular binding forces is independent of the densrty of the gas andamountsfor instance ionization is ,ap roximately completely suppressed,the 'hig est output VVof active gas 1s obtained.' y

The largest electrostatic forces are present inthe immediateneighbourhood of the surface of intensively curved conductors which are'charged with' electricity, for instance atV points, along edges andaround thin wires. y suitably shaping the surface of the conductor aswellvas by choosing thetension` chemical conversion.

the intensity of these fields may be altered at will. The height of thetension is limited or controlled in practice by a suitable increase ofthe curvature of the surface, however, the fields may be so chosen thattheir action overcomes wholly or partially the chemical binding forces.If the fields can be made sufficiently intense, a very small space isobtained within which nearly all the molecules can he influenced. Onlythis Small space shall be utilized according to the present invention.

Assuming asconductor a thin wire or one provided with a sharp edge andusing the tension cp as ordinates and the distance s as absciss then theintensity of fields is If such conductors are charged for instance witha current of approximately 500,000 volt or more, electric fields aregenerated in the immediate neighbourhood of these conductors showing anintensity of 10S volt/cm. and more, which intensity suffices to overcomemany chemical binding forces. As the intensity of the field decreasesvery rapidly with an increase in the distance from the conductor it isevident that the effective space is very small and measures only a few-good conductivity and thereby the formation ofsparks, of glowandbrush-light and of cold discharges with 'the result of a temporaryreduction in the intensity of the field whereby thevuniformity ofeffective action and the desired result are reduced to a large extent.

The shock ionization may be prevented for the greatest part by forcingthe substances to be treated-gases, vapors and dust suspensions andtheir mixtures, and hereinafter called gaseous substances-through asmall passage, in which the field is most intense, at av suitable speedand eventually at a proper pressure, or by admixing to the medium to betreated,` substances which lower effectively the electric conductivitybut which do not necessarily partake in the A further way of keeping theshock ionization within certain limits consists in the utilization ofthe electrii-al condensing action by the expansion of vaporous media inthe electric field.

The progress of the chemical conversion of the substances will approachthe ideal state when for instance a circular disc having a sharp edge iscontinuously charged at high tension and is so mounted that near thedisc no other body is present having a different. potential and throughwhich the electric current would flow off. Under Vthis condition andmakina use of the above men-Y tioned precautions fbr avoiding the shockionization the conversion of the supplied electric energy into. theequivalent chemical energy takes place continuously whereby the escapeof free electricity from the field which would be a loss, is avoided.

In practice, however, 'this ideal state is only approximately attained,but the approximation 'goes so far that high concentrations oftheconverted substances are obtained without too great losses occurring.

Constructional examples of devices adapted to carry into effect thepresent process are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigs. 1-5 are vertical sections through five devices.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 denotes a tubular insulator inwhich a cir-v cular disc 2 having a knife edge is located, the disc 2beinlg charged at hi h 'tension by means of a vertical rod 3. hecross-sectional area of the passage between the nonconductor 1 and thedisc 2 is dimensioned of a greater or smaller width according totherequired action of the electric field. But in any case this width mustbe small to obtain the greatest pressure of the gas at the constrictedpassage between the knife edge and the tube wall where the intense fieldis located. The electric field which is at the periphery of the disc 2and the maximum intensity of which is in the immediate vneighbourhood ofthe knife edge of the disc. is illustrated by the lines of force 4. Thesubstances to be converted, which may be in a vaporous, gaseous andpowdery' state, i. e. suspended as dust, or in a mixture of these.states, are forced to pass through the electric field in the directionof the arrows 5 at lis more or less high speeds and under high Ypressures.

Fig. 2 illustrates a constructional forni of the device which is amodification of that shown in Fig. l. The knife edged plate 2 shown inFig. l is replaced by a thin sheet metal disc which is charged at highten- Sion by the conductor 6.

The conductive disc 7 is arranged in a small space between two paralleldiscs8 and 9 made of insulating material, which space corresponds to theeffective portion of a field. The substance to be converted is forced inthe direction of the arrows l0 through the high tension field 11 presentat the edge of ISD the -disc 7., The direction'v of-flow .of the csubstancemay also be reversed if circum A stances requlre 1t.

"current are utilized. The twol discs are elec- `tricallyconnected toeach other by means of intermediate-pieces 14 or spacing blocks so thata very narrow space is lobtained between .the discs.v The field isformed at the edges of the discs, at 15, and gases which are forced `intheudirection of "the arrows 16 through the tubulary extension ofthedisc 12 have to pass throu h this field.

VvF ig. 4 s vowsthe, whole arrangement of an a paratus for the chemicalconversion of su stances.4 The substance to be treated is supplied 'tothel apparatus which is of metal through the branch 17 of aireceptacle18. Thereceptacle is closed by a cover 19 having la'cylindricalextension 20 through which an insulated member 21 passes. The

-v member 21 surrounds'a tubef22 made of conductive material. The lowerend of the tube 22 is screwed to a conductive disc 23 to which adisc 24is fixed, Ya narrow space 25 being left between thel discs for the.substancek to fiow through.v At the other end of the tube 22 a valve 26lis arranged by means of which the pressure inside thereceptacle- 18 canbe regulated. The treatedV substances are discharged at 27. The top ofthe tube 22 is connected to a` source of highV tension current, forinstance to a transformer by the 'lead 28, the receptacle 18 is groundedat 30. The toprof the extension 20 is provided with a sharpedged flange`29 and above the insulated Ymember 21 there is arranged a metallic capV30 having asimilar sharp edged Harige, theV flangesforming between thema safety sparking gap.V

The two knife edged discs may be substituted by two discs made of thinsheet metal, or morethan two discs may -be used, (for instance four' .asshown in Fig. 5) to suit special practical requirements.

VWith the last described arrangement veryl small areas for the passageof the substance are obtained without the utilization of nonconductiveprotecting discs 8 and 9, as shown in F ig.2. Y l

It is evident that a great many `constructional forms of the devicesaccording to the invention can be made and that instead of discs `otherbodies made of wires such as wire Inettings, spirals, sharppoints andthe' like maybe used for generating the fields throughlwhich thesubstances to be treated Y have tolpass.y

In Figs.13 only the field producing elements of the device areillustrated, numbers Vof such elements mayorf course be assembled l toform an apparatus'- as required `in'practice and as is shown inFi 5.

'Ifhe present invention is o? particular `importance for theproduction'of nitrogenous `compounds Afrom the `airk whereby air.V is`forced through the devices described vabove and the nitrogenl moleculesare dissociated, v

i. e. are rendered active;: however, the invention `may be appliedtovany other substances in vaporous or gaseous condition or suspended asdust.

The substances to be treated may be forced f through the fields atvarying initial and final pressures and at varying speeds forwhich moreor less narrow areas for the substances f to pass may be chosenaccording to theeffective portion of the field. The substances may alsobe forced from nozzles as vfreejets through the electric fields.

With some chemcalproducts it is advan- ,tageous to let the convertedsubstances mix with each other only after they have passed the electricfields.

The treatment of the substances may also take place at hightemperatures, in this case the most'suitable temperatures at whichtheconversions may be effected will havefto.` be carried out by experimentsin every case.

1. The process of effecting chemical action of substances thatare'in4 aseous or vaporous state or in suspension. w ichcomprises forcingfthesubstances to bev treated through a high tension electricalfield withoutcausing shock ionization and rupture of said field. v

Y 2. The process of effecting chemical action of substantially gaseoussubstances -or suspensions, which comprises producing an electric fieldof not less than 10 volts per cm. and forcing the substance to betreated through such field withoutcausing shock Y which comprisesproducing a small electricv field of a tension betweenV 10*s and 108,volts per cm., and forcing suchsubstance through said small field undera pressure considerably aboveatmospheric pressure without producingshock ionization and a disruptive discharge of said field. V

4. The process of effecting chemical `ac-` tiou,`which comprises formingat the acutely curved surface of an electric conductor a staticelectrical field of high tension, and passing the substances to betreatedV through such field at a pressure and tempera-ture that will notcause shock ionization and a rupture of` saidfield.

5. The process of effecting chemical .action, which comprises generatinga high tension electrical field,` subjecting the substance to be treatedto thevr action of such eld without discharging the field to produceshock ionization, and maintaining a high pressure on the substanceduring its passage through the field.

6. The process of effecting chemical action. which comprises maintaininga high tension electrical field without producing shock ionization at anacutelyl bent conducting surface, and crowding t 1e substance to betreated through a narrow space in such field at a high pressure withoutdischarging said field.

7. The process of effecting chemical action, which comprises maintaininga high tension electrical field without producing shock ionization at anacutel bent conducting surface, and crowding t 1e substance to betreated through a narrow space in such field at a high pressure and at ahigh temperature without rupture or discharge of said field.

8. The process of effecting chemical action, which comprises imparting ahigh pressure to the substance to be treated, maintaining at an acutelycurved conducting surface a very intense electrical field withoutproducing shock ionization, the electrical tension and curvature of saidsurface being chosen to maintain a field between 105 and 10S volts percm., and maintaining the high pressure on the substance while in saidfield without causing rupture of said field.

9. The process of effecting chemical action of substantially gaseoussubstances, which comprises forcing such subst-ance to be treatedthrough a high tension electrical field without causing shock ionizationor a rupture of said field, and mixing with such substance a mediumcapable of lowering the electric conductivity of said substance.

10. The process of effect-ing chemical action of substantially gaseoussubstances, which comprises forcin such substance through a high tensione ectric field without causing shock ionization or rupture of saidfield, mixing with such substance a mediumcapable of lowering theelectric conductivity of the subst-ance, and maintaining a high pressureon the mixture while in such high tension field.

11. The process of effecting chemical action of substantially gaseoussubstances, which comprises forcing such substances through aconstricted passage in a high tension electrical field without causingshock ionization and thereby imparting whirls to such substances to mixthe components of such substances, and controlling the initial and endpressures of the substance to determine the speed of passa through suchfield.

12. The'process of e ecting chemical action of substantially gaseoussubstances, which comprises imparting a high pressure to the substancesto be treated, forcing the substances under said highA pressure throu hvery intense electric fields formed at t e acutel curved surface ofelectric conductors, t ereby causing the condensing action produced bythe expansion of vaporous substancesV to reduce shock-ionization` andcontrolling the temperature of the substance to be treated.

13. The process of effecting chemical action of substantially gaseoussubstances, which comprises imparting a high pressure. to the substancesto be treated, forcing cach substance separately under high pressurethrough very intense electric fields` formed on the acutely curvedsurface of electric conductors without producing shock ionization, andcausing the substances leaving said electric fields to mix and reactwith each other.

14. A device for effecting chemical action of substantially gaseoussl'ibstances, comprising a plurality of' elements each consisting of aconductor having an acutely curved surface, means to charge saidelements with high tension current, and means to conduct the substancesto bc treated through the electric fields without producing shockionization at the acutely curved surfaces of said; elements.

15. A device for effecting chemical action of substantiallygaseoussubstances, comprising a plurality of elements each consisting of a discof conductive material provided with a knife-edged circumference, meansto charge said elements with high tension current, and means to conductthe substances to be treated through the electric fields at the acutelycurved surfaces of said elements, without producingl shock ionization.

1G. A device for effecting chemical action of substantially gaseoussubstances, comprising a plurality of elements, each consisting of aconductor having an acutely curved surface, means to charge saidelements with high tension current, means to conduct the substances tobe treated through the electric fields generated at the acutely curvedsurfaces of said elements, and means to limit the area for the passageof the substances to the most effective parts of the field withoutproducing shock ionization.

17. A device for effecting chemical action, comprising an electricalconductor having an acutely curved surface, means to charge saideconductor at high potential to form an electrical field of increasedpotential at the acutely curved surface without effecting shockionization, and means to direct through such field in a constrictedpassage thereat'the gaseous substance to be treated under substantiallyhigh pressure.

18. A. device for effecting chemical action, comprising a closed chamberhaving an inlet for the material under pressure, an electrode comprisingspaced electrode elements arranged to form a narrow slotbetween them, atubeextending from said electrode and slot, and means to s'upply'currentto the electrode toY produce a substantially non-Y disruptive electricalield at the edges of the l electrode and slot..

19. A `device for effecting chemical action, comprising a closed,grounded chamber having'an inlet for the material under pressure,

ani electrode comprising electrode elements Y arranged to form a narrowlslot' between them, a conductive tube passing chamber and erpendicularto sald electrode' and slot for t e exit of products formed, a valve tocontrol said tube, and an electric ter minal for the tube.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing V15V as our invention, we havesi ned our names.

'LEON ARD HEIS. HUBERT JEZLER.

into said Y 10 f

